JJ Kavanagh and Sons
Encyclopedia
JJ Kavanagh and Sons is Ireland
's largest private coach
operator. It was founded in 1919 by J.J. Kavanagh with the operation of a service connecting Urlingford
with Kilkenny City.
The company has expanded greatly since the 1990s with the take-over of Keneally's coach operators in Waterford. Its head office is in Urlingford Co. Kilkenny. There are also offices in Naas
, Dublin, Clonmel
, Nenagh
, Waterford
and Carlow
. JJ Kavanagh and Sons is a member of the CTTC.
and Kilkenny
. Over the following years, the company gradually expanded with in an increase in fleet size and number of routes with the introduction of an Urlingford
- Clonmel
route. At the time, the company had a lucrative delivery contract with some of Ireland
's largest newspaper
companies.
lost their lucrative delivery deal and were forced to find new sources of finance. Under management of current managers, JJ and Paul the business has seen rapid expansion over the past three decades as they have launched many intercity routes as well as becoming prominent transporters in the private travel area in Ireland. The expansion of intercity routes has been made possible for the company as a result of their aquisition of a number of coach companies across the south-east of Ireland in Naas, Nenagh, Waterford and Clonmel as well as the opening of sub-offices in Carlow
and Dublin.
, England
. The deal is believed to have been in the region of one million euros. It is clear that the companies expansions have not been without reward as last year the company reported net profits of over 8 million euros demonstrate.
300 and 400 series coaches which feature air conditioning, reclining seats, on-board toilets, seatbelts and audio/visual facilities. The number plates of every bus is made up of only number ones.
It was the first coach company in Ireland to introduce free wi-fi
onto some of its coaches in 2009.
The bus fleet operated by the company on the town and city routes is made up of Mercedes-Benz Citaros.
and Carlow
G.A.A. scene, sponsoring numerous of the hurling
and gaelic football
competitions in the counties. They currently sponsor the Kilkenny camogie
team.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
's largest private coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
operator. It was founded in 1919 by J.J. Kavanagh with the operation of a service connecting Urlingford
Urlingford
Urlingford is a town in the barony of Galmoy, County Kilkenny, Ireland.The town lies on the R639. The M8 motorway runs just west of the town, from which both Urlingford and nearby Johnstown are accessed via junction four. Urlingford is a bus hub, with major operator JJ Kavanagh and Sons based there...
with Kilkenny City.
The company has expanded greatly since the 1990s with the take-over of Keneally's coach operators in Waterford. Its head office is in Urlingford Co. Kilkenny. There are also offices in Naas
Naas
Naas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...
, Dublin, Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, Nenagh
Nenagh
Nenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
, Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
and Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
. JJ Kavanagh and Sons is a member of the CTTC.
Beginnings (1919-1980)
JJ Kavanagh and Sons was founded in 1919 by JJ Kavanagh with the running of a daily coach service between UrlingfordUrlingford
Urlingford is a town in the barony of Galmoy, County Kilkenny, Ireland.The town lies on the R639. The M8 motorway runs just west of the town, from which both Urlingford and nearby Johnstown are accessed via junction four. Urlingford is a bus hub, with major operator JJ Kavanagh and Sons based there...
and Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
. Over the following years, the company gradually expanded with in an increase in fleet size and number of routes with the introduction of an Urlingford
Urlingford
Urlingford is a town in the barony of Galmoy, County Kilkenny, Ireland.The town lies on the R639. The M8 motorway runs just west of the town, from which both Urlingford and nearby Johnstown are accessed via junction four. Urlingford is a bus hub, with major operator JJ Kavanagh and Sons based there...
- Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
route. At the time, the company had a lucrative delivery contract with some of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
's largest newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
companies.
Change in Market and Rapid Expansion (1980-2010)
With the decline in the prominence of the newspaper in Ireland JJ Kavanagh and SonsJJ Kavanagh and Sons
JJ Kavanagh and Sons is Ireland's largest private coach operator. It was founded in 1919 by J.J. Kavanagh with the operation of a service connecting Urlingford with Kilkenny City....
lost their lucrative delivery deal and were forced to find new sources of finance. Under management of current managers, JJ and Paul the business has seen rapid expansion over the past three decades as they have launched many intercity routes as well as becoming prominent transporters in the private travel area in Ireland. The expansion of intercity routes has been made possible for the company as a result of their aquisition of a number of coach companies across the south-east of Ireland in Naas, Nenagh, Waterford and Clonmel as well as the opening of sub-offices in Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
and Dublin.
International Expansion and Beyond (2011- )
To further boost profits the company sought international expansion. Expansion occurred with the purchase of Mullaney's coaches in WatfordWatford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The deal is believed to have been in the region of one million euros. It is clear that the companies expansions have not been without reward as last year the company reported net profits of over 8 million euros demonstrate.
Intercity Coach Services
JJ Kavanagh and Sons currently operates nine scheduled intercity coach services in Ireland these are:- Clonmel - Kilkenny - Naas - Dublin City - Dublin Airport
- Waterford - Thomastown - Gorwan - Carlow - Naas - Dublin City - Dublin Airport
- Shannon Airport - Limerick - Nenagh - Portlaoise - Kildare - Dublin City - Dublin Airport.
- Carlow - Athy - Ballickmoyler - Portlaoise - Abbeyleix
- Carlow - Bagnelstown - Kilkenny
- Hacketstown - Baltinglass - Rathvilly - Tullow - Carlow
- Newbridge - Kilcullen
- Naas - Sallins - Clane
- Urlingford - Mulinahone - Clonmel
- Urlingford - Kilkenny
Local Bus Services
The company also currently operates a number of local bus services, including those in Waterford and Tramore.Fleet
The companies coach fleet which operates on intercity services is made up of over 100 modern SetraSetra
Setra is a Neu-Ulm, Germany-based manufacturer of commercial buses and touring coaches, and recently a subsidiary of Daimler AG.The name "Setra" comes from "Selbsttragend"...
300 and 400 series coaches which feature air conditioning, reclining seats, on-board toilets, seatbelts and audio/visual facilities. The number plates of every bus is made up of only number ones.
It was the first coach company in Ireland to introduce free wi-fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
onto some of its coaches in 2009.
The bus fleet operated by the company on the town and city routes is made up of Mercedes-Benz Citaros.
Other works
JJ Kavanagh and Sons plays a very active role in the KilkennyKilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
and Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
G.A.A. scene, sponsoring numerous of the hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
competitions in the counties. They currently sponsor the Kilkenny camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
team.